Milton Keynes Dons manager Karl Robinson has revealed that he missed out on the chance to sign Tottenham midfielder Harry Winks last year after the head of recruitment blocked the move.

The 21-year-old has been a revelation in the centre of the park for Spurs, having been thrown into the first team reckoning by Mauricio Pochettino in the middle of an injury crisis at the club.

With regular central midfielders Mousa Dembele and Victor Wanyama both ruled out of action in the opening stages of the season, Winks starred in his more regular role and has established himself as a key member of the Tottenham squad, as well as earning his first England cap.

However, while Winks has never played for another club other than Spurs during his career, MK Dons boss Robinson shockingly revealed he missed out on a loan swoop in 2016 after seeing an approach vetoed by the then Championship club’s recruitment chief.

He told Football.London: “I tried to get him on loan at MK Dons, but the head of recruitment at the time didn’t think he was good enough.

“He’s the perfect example of someone who could’ve been missed because he keeps it simple – the odd diagonal, forward passes, doesn’t score, not 6’2”, not massively aggressive.

“Now he’s one of the best holding midfielders in the country.”

Since breaking through the youth ranks at Spurs Winks has gone on to make 49 appearances for the club, having turned out in all but four of their 17 fixtures across all competitions.

He could hit his half century of outings on Saturday when Tottenham travel to the Emirates Stadium for the north London derby against Arsenal, a clash which pits second place Spurs against the Gunners in sixth.